Now, let’s take a look at something new under school sport, especially “How Long Does a High School Football Game Last” and other interesting discussions. Every person watching or planning to attend a high school game must consider this one vital question. They may have other plans to attend an invent but still show up to support a friend or a relative. But yet, still unsure of the duration of the game.
Luckily, you are on the right track as we would cover this essential topic of how long does a high school football game last and other vital issues you have to consider.
Although there are some exceptions, the high school football season typically runs from late August to late October, and these are average. However, before the season’s first game, a practice typically begins two to three weeks. The postseason, therefore, lasts until late November or early December. Before we look into the main discussion, let me quickly introduce what high school football is about.
- About High School Football?
- How Long Does a High School Football Game Last
- What Causes a High School Football Game to Last So Long?
- What is the Average Length of a High School Football Game?
- Why Four Quarters in Football Games
- In a Football Game, are There Three Halves?
- What is the Game length of Regular Football?
About High School Football?
To thoroughly understand the concept of this topic: How Long Does a High School Football Game Last, we have to look at what high school football is about.
High school football is an American football, that is mainly played by high school teams in the United States and Canada. However, in the United States and Canada, high school football remains one of the most popular interscholastic sports, but its popularity is waning.
The rate at which high school students participate in high school football has decreased by 9% between 2009 and 2019. This is according to a report by Washington Post. Furthermore, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is responsible for establishing high school football rules in the United States.
Texas has been the only state in the U.S not to regulate its activities on the NFHS rule, instead opting for the NCAA rules with a few exceptions.
Read more: Average NBA Game Length in 2023
How Long Does a High School Football Game Last
If you think you are being too extra to ask how long does a high school football game last, I am happy to inform you that it is typical to ask. Especially when you have other events to attend, you choose to support that friend or loved ones by showing up.
However, the game length for high school football is about forty-eight minutes. But this is divided into four quarters. Each quarter plays for twelve minutes. Kindly note that these are not real-time minutes but rather gaming minutes.
Although the game length of high school football is about forty-eight minutes, you are therefore advised to set out at least two hours of your real-time. This may be due to delays from penalties, time-outs, and halftime breaks. These factors are thereby responsible for interrupting the regular game time.
The halftime is necessary for both teams to have their private discussion about their performance and improve. During halftime, the cheerleaders or bands step in to entertain the fans before the game resumes.
Furthermore, the halftime of a high school football game allows the fans to readjust or maybe use the bathroom and get food if hungry. While some high school games are shown on Television, many others are broadcasted on the radio. These media sources provide students and schools with more visibility and, in some situations, revenue.
In terms of revenue, the state provides for the school, but in most cases, the income is never enough to assist programs set out by the schools. This is where the benefit of high school football plays. The benefits include sponsorships, donations, and others.
What Causes a High School Football Game to Last So Long?
At this point, you should be familiar with the information concerning how long does a high school football game last. However, you might still be contemplating what causes the high school football game to last that long.
Unlike high school football games, college and professional football games take longer. College and professional football game players are more physically developed than high school football game players.
Most players gain their first real exposure and experience to football in high school. Although high school football players are athletic, they stand no chance with college and professional football players. In high school, players learn to catch the ball and appropriately make tackles. They play in larger venues in front of larger crowds at high school. College scouts begin to assess an athlete’s potential in high school.
However, high school management should be careful with drafting out sports timetables. The students’ regular classes and studies shouldn’t be interfered with. This is one reason why professional and college football games last longer than a high school football game.
In most cases, a high school football game will not last longer than three hours. High schools must assist students in balancing athletics and their education. Thus, games are not as long as those played at colleges and professional levels. The students are advised to draft out a considerate timetable that allows them to focus on their studies and concentrate on their sport.
What is the Average Length of a High School Football Game?
Under this topic of how long a high school football game last, we also need to understand the average length of the high school football game. However, football games in high school last two to two and a half hours. They are divided into four quarters. Each quarter lasts for about 12-minutes, and there is a halftime break in the middle of the second and third quarters. While in regular football games, each quarter lasts for fifteen minutes.
You can also read on Intramural sports definition| what are intramural sports in 2023
Why Four Quarters in Football Games
Now that you are familiar with many of these football-related topics, the question of “why four quarters in football games.” may arise. For clarification purposes, we must address this particular discussion.
In 1910, the Committee devised the split of time into quarters, as we know them now. This, therefore, led to the division of the game into two halves. Both halves last for about thirty-minute each. The halves are divided into four quarters, two quarters for a half. There is also halftime between the second and third quarters.
In a Football Game, are There Three Halves?
You might still be curious whether a football game may have featured three halves. Well, it is true that, and it’s in the record that a football game has featured just three halves.
On the opening day of the 1894–95 English football season, the game between Sunderland and Derby County featured three halves. Derby had traveled to Sunderland for their first-round match of the new First Division season on September 1. Still, the game began with a replacement referee, John Conqueror, in command since the selected referee, T. Kirkham, was late.
Two more halves were played, giving the game a total of three halves. However, Derby did not benefit from the decision to restart the game. The game was later named “Game of Three Halves.”
What is the Game length of Regular Football?
We have looked at how long does a high school football game last. Now let’s look at how long does a regular football game lasts?
However, the average football game length lasts a little more than three hours. The longest average game time in recent years occurred in 2015, when it was three hours and nine minutes.
Football games in college can last even longer than those in the NFL. A typical college game lasts about three and a half hours. At the same time, the length of a high school or youth football game will be significantly less than that of an NFL or college football game.
In summary, we have been able to look at how long does a high school football last, about high school football, what causes a high school football game to last so long, the average game length of high school football, and other vital issues. I hope this article was clear and comprehensive for you. Good luck with your decision.
What is the Average Length of a High School Football Game?
High school football games last two to two and a half hours. High school football games are divided into four quarters. Each quarter lasts for about 12-minutes, and there is a halftime break in the middle of the second and third quarters. While in regular football games, each quarter lasts for fifteen minutes.
How Long Does a High School Football Game Last
However, the game length for high school football is about forty-eight minutes. But this is divided into four quarters. Each quarter plays for twelve minutes. Kindly note that these are not real-time minutes but rather gaming minutes.